§2833. Child coverage

1.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Dependent children" means children who are under 19 years of age and are children, stepchildren or adopted children of, or children placed for adoption with, the certificate holder, member or spouse of the certificate holder or member.   [PL 1993, c. 666, Pt. A, §5 (NEW).]

B. "Placed for adoption" means the assumption and retention of a legal obligation by a person for the total or partial support of a child in anticipation of adoption of the child. If the legal obligation ceases to exist, the child is no longer considered placed for adoption.   [PL 1993, c. 666, Pt. A, §5 (NEW).]

[PL 1993, c. 666, Pt. A, §5 (RPR).]

2.  Coverage.  All group or blanket health insurance plans issued in accordance with the requirements of section 2832 must provide unmarried women certificate holders with the option of coverage of their children from the date of birth. A certificate holder who, pursuant to the laws of this State or any other state, has been adjudicated or has acknowledged himself to be the father of an illegitimate child must be given the option of coverage for that child from the date of his adjudication or acknowledgement of paternity. This optional coverage must be the same as that provided the children of a married certificate holder with family or dependent coverage.

[PL 1991, c. 200, Pt. B, §4 (NEW).]

3.  Financial dependency.  Financial dependency of dependent children on the certificate holder or the spouse of the certificate holder may not be required as a condition for eligibility for coverage.

[PL 1991, c. 200, Pt. B, §4 (NEW).]

4.  Adopted children.  All group or blanket health insurance policies and certificates issued in accordance with the requirements of this section must provide the same benefits to dependent children placed for adoption with the certificate holder or spouse of the certificate holder under the same terms and conditions as apply to natural dependent children or stepchildren of the certificate holder, irrespective of whether the adoption has become final.

[PL 1993, c. 666, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1975, c. 276, §3 (NEW). PL 1979, c. 663, §147 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 652, §52 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 200, §B4 (RPR). PL 1993, c. 666, §§A5,6 (AMD).